Your Brain on Art- Day 5

 According to Your Brain on Art, “The arts trigger the release of neurochemicals, hormones, and endorphins that offer an emotional release.”

This is similar to what Aristotle calls catharsis, a surge of emotions that brings a sense of connection and well-being. 

 Participating in the arts has been shown to rewire neural pathways. 

Incorporating them into your daily life is just as important as good nutrition, exercise, sleep, and social interactions. The best thing of all is that you don’t even have to be good at it. 

Many of us lost interest in drawing during our mid-elementary years when we realized our horse didn’t really look like a horse. We quickly convinced ourselves that we weren’t good at art, and gave it up. 

Remember, though, the arts encompass activities such as visiting art galleries, listening to music, and attending the theater. None of these requires you to pick up a paintbrush or learn a new instrument to be beneficial. 

Of course, actually participating in the creation of art is beneficial, as well as fun. Each night while I’m watching TV, I’m usually coloring with my colored pencils and my favorite series of coloring books entitled Zendoodlecoloring. 

The authors, Magsamen and Ross, state, “The arts help us amplify the positive emotions, like joy and happiness, helping to usher in an overall sense of well-being.”

What could you do to be an observer of the arts? This is an easy way to start cultivating an aesthetic mindset. 

Your Brain On Art- Day 4

 Your Brain on Art- Day 4

Nature is one of the best enriched environment. The Japanese know this well and practice shinrin-yoku or forest bathing. They immerse themselves in nature using their senses. Just the act of slowing down and remaining present has shown to be restorative and can promote better physical and mental well-being. 

A couple of weeks ago I traveled to Las Colinas to attend several retirement events for my husband and one of his co-workers. I took advantage of being in the area and returned to our old apartment complex to walk. . One of my favorite things about the apartment is the lake and the walking path that surrounds it. Spending time in the beauty of the lake watching the wildlife on the water really lifted my spirits. 

At our current home, sitting on the back porch in the morning, watching the hummingbirds, has become one of our favorite pastimes. When we can, we enjoy eating our breakfast outside enjoying the cool morning breeze. Even opening the blinds to let in the natural light makes a difference in my mood. 

Another way to make your home environment more enjoyable is to bring the outdoors in. You can accomplish this by trying to “incorporate elements of the natural world,” in your decorating. 

Spending time surrounded by the beauty of nature is the most natural form of art. God has really outdone Himself when you consider the beauty of a sunset, or wildflowers blooming in the spring. He truly is the first artist, and He shares that art with us daily. 

Find time within your day to reconnect with the outdoor world. 

Your Brain on Art-Day 3

 

Did you know according to Your Brain on Art, “Arts and aesthetics can literally rewire your brain. They are the secret sauce that helps build new synaptic connections.”

Spending an hour at the gym or eating a plate of kale may be ways to stay healthy. However,  spending an afternoon at an art gallery or attending a concert in the park might be more fun. 

Your brain uses neuroplasticity (where one cell sends a signal to the next) like a gardener uses shears to prune away dead limbs. By doing so the brain builds stronger synapses and removes weaker connections. 

The environment is the key, here. As it changes, opportunities arise for the neural circuits in your brain to change. That’s why an enriched environment is so much better for your brain. 

In fact, Magsamen and Ross state, “Our environment has the potential to dramatically alter the brain-for better or worse.”

Not only does an enriched environment work in our favor, but an impoverished environment has been shown to cause, “a slow, corrosive effect on health and well-being.”

I can’t help but wonder about the trend of minimalism and a neutral palette. Have we altered our environment in such a way that it may be affecting our well-being?

I’m noticing a new trend, full of color and curated stuff, that is hitting my Instagram feed. Generation Z is embracing a cozy cottage vibe, and are raiding their grandmother’s hutch cabinet for treasures. In a recent visit to a local antique shop, the owner shared with me that two college girls had just left looking for stuff to decorate their dorm room. 

Give some thought to the environment you surround yourself with each day. Does it “Spark Joy” as Marie Kondo likes to say? If not, what could you do to make a few changes?

Your Brain on Art-Day 2

 “Art is the essence of awareness” Irish poet John O’Donohue

According to Your Brain on Art, people with an Aesthetic Mindset, have these attributes in common:

They possess a high level of curiosity. They love play and exploration. They have an eye for detail and enjoy creative activities.

I remember when I used to write blog posts daily. I found myself always on the lookout for interesting topics. It actually became quite fun as I challenged myself to look at the ordinary in a new light. 

Magsamen and Ross believe that, “Being in the aesthetic mindset is being present and attuned to the environment you are in.” 

Research shows that we are actually wired for the arts. All five senses work together as the foundation and contribute to health and wellness. 

Without going into the scientific workings of the brain, it’s amazing how it is designed to work in tandem with the environment it encounters. 

Perhaps, the most interesting feature is your brain’s use of neuroplasticity. Merriam-Webster defines this as “the capacity of the brain to develop and change throughout life.”

As we age, knowing that our brain can still be active and open to new learning is exciting. The arts are a fun and interesting way to take advantage of our brain's ability to do this. 

Your Brain on Art-Day 1

 

The idea for this 31 Day series came from the book Your Brain on Art -How the Arts Transform Us, by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross.

To be honest, the book ended up being a little too scientific and serious for my tastes, but it did get me thinking.

At the beginning of the book is a quiz about the impact of art on your life. I scored pitifully low and was quite surprised. I thought I was all about creativity and art, but I learned I may have talked the talk, but really didn’t walk the walk. 

Magsamen and Ross define the arts as an Aesthetic Mindset:

How you are aware of the arts and aesthetics around you, and how you bring them into your life with purpose. 

Now why would this even be important? Well, just like the thirty-one-day challenge I did on curiosity in 2023, I discovered that the arts can actually contribute to a better quality of life, especially as we age. 

So I’m hoping you’ll follow along this month as we explore how you can incorporate more of the arts in your life. Hopefully, I may be able to score a little bit higher on the quiz. 

Retirement

Today is officially the first day of Chuck’s retirement. On Monday he was honored at work with a celebration of friends, family, and co-workers. The week before he attended a special luncheon in his honor. 

I attended both and was proud to be his wife. It was obvious that he was highly regarded by his co-workers and was going to be missed. 

Chuck had devoted forty-six years to his company and had started his first job there at TP&L in the mailroom. Over the years he was a storekeeper at the Collin plant, worked in Accounting, did graphic design for the company, ran the print shop, and was a Facilities Superintendent in charge of copiers, vehicles, and investment recovery. He also worked closely with the print department. 

He saw the company change names over the years from TP&L to TXU to Energy Future Holdings and eventually to Vistra. 

I made Chuck a countdown chain, in typical elementary school teacher fashion, to help keep up with the days he had left to work. I encouraged him to make a list of fond memories from over the years. He came up with the idea to write them down on each link of the chain as he removed them. 

He shared several of these at his retirement party and had the crowd roaring. He might start a second career in stand-up comedy. His co-workers shared many wonderful stories of their time together. 

A great time was had by all, and it was especially nice to have Will, Brittany, and the boys there to share in the celebration. 

Now that he is retired, you might wonder what his plans are. He’s considering taking some art classes at Tarleton, has plenty of projects he’s been wanting to do at the Rocking H, has plans to raise sheep, can now attend a morning Bible Study, and looks forward to traveling. 

He plans on taking the next few months off and easing into the whole retirement gig. Although, he did make a trip to Granbury today to pick up something for the ranch. We were able to go together and stopped off at Cane’s Chicken for lunch. It was a fun day. 

I’m very excited for him as he enters this next season of life and I wish him all the best!

Writing Seminar

 

Today I was fortunate to participate in a writing class sponsored by the Writers’ League of Texas. This organization works in conjunction with rural libraries and presents free writing classes. 

Today’s class was taught by authors Stacey Swann and Sarah Kocek. We learned more about using Flash Fiction as a way to jump-start creativity. We also learned the dos and don'ts of dialogue. 

I came away with lots of good ideas and had a chance to meet some local writers, both aspiring and published. 

The Comanche librarian let us know that she was hoping to schedule another session at the De Leon Library soon. 

I’m really enjoying this writing life.